New Work to Old Work Electrical box Clip

ABSTRACT

(1) The new work to old work electrical box clips are for installing a nail on box into drywall to be used as an old work electrical box by removing the nails and nail holders for a smooth surface, the old work box clips fasten the electrical box into drywall firmly and securely.(2) Older types of old work cut in boxes are currently limited in supply and many jobs can not be completed without this product. Older types of old work boxes cost more and are limited to specific manufactures designs.(3) Also the old work box clips take and use an overstock of a product, the nail on box for new construction. The clips can be made of many types of materials readily available to be manufactured and if there is a shortage of the current cut-in boxes this will solve the shortage problem by offering a different way of doing the same installation.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to electrical cut-in boxes specifically for old work cut-in boxes for installing new switches and plugs in dwelling units or commercial buildings.

BACKGROUND

Old cut in boxes are more expensive to make and are limited to their specific design, if there is a shortage then there are no good substitutes. Some of the old work cut-in boxes (metal) currently in use come with external clips that have to be purchased separately to be installed and one does not work with out the other. The plastic cut-in boxes have to be purchased as a single unit and the cost is greater than basic nail on boxes. Here are a list of old cut in box types for reference:

1. Hubbell Raco 8977 Grip-loc Old work switch box straps and support for specific metal boxes that have front tabs to prevent the box from falling inside the wall opening.

2. Raco 969 box support clip also for a specific metal cut in box.

3. Hubbell-Raco 506 Switch box 3×2 inch deep Metal box.

4. Raco 7887rac 2¼ inch Old work single gan cable box.

5. Carlon Ceiling 2.75 inch Round Old Work box 18 cu.

6. Carlon B114R-UPC Lamson home products number 1G Old.

7. Raco 523 2½D bx switch box with Grips.

8. Pass and Seymour Slater switch outlet box 18 cu in one gang, cut in electrical box.

9. Steelcty 820-D-2 Switch box supports 2 pair.

10. Raco 545 3×2 Old work box w/NMC Clamps.

11. Q-Clip single gang Cut-In box holders.

12. Steel City Old Work-Swing-Ear Old work Swing Ears with self threading screws, Manufacture Thomas & Betts Item #12651.

All of the above listed items have to be used with a manufactured box with the front top and bottom tabs already integrated into the box for function.

SUMMARY OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The New work to Old work electrical box clip can be made of a rigid or malleable materials of multicolor or multi shaped cross sections and is used to hold a modified nail on electrical box, (or can be manufactured into a box), in drywall for the installation of electrical switches, receptacles or to be used as a junction box. The New work to Old work clips can be used on round, rectangular and square types of electrical boxes; rectangular single gang, two gang, three gang or four gang just by adding extra Box Clips. The New work to Old work electrical box clip can be made as a stand alone Old work electrical box and the dimensions of the box clips can be installed in any size drywall, example; ⅜'s inch drywall, ½ inch drywall and ⅝'s drywall.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of the New work to Old work electrical box clips laying flat on a surface. They are to be installed in the modified nail on box to hold the electrical box securely in a cut out in drywall.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of the New work to Old work electrical box clips in an upright position side view.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of a New work box that would be used on new construction (no drywall installed) where the electrician would wire a dwelling unit or commercial building.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of a Modified New work electrical box, that is nails removed, to be used as a old work electrical box, (drywall installed)

FIG. 5 is a drawing of the Modified New work electrical box (nail holders removed, for a smooth surface) then a template for drilling holes to install the New work to Old work electrical box clips.

FIG. 6 is the template used to set on the modified electrical box for drilling the holes so the New work to Old work electrical box clips can be inserted into the electrical box.

FIG. 7 is a drawing of the New work to Old work electrical box clips installed in the modified electrical box.

FIG. 8 is a drawing of the modified electrical box with the New work to Old work electrical box clips holding the electrical box securely in place in a cut in of drywall, for the installation of electrical switches, receptacles or used as a junction box.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 dimension can be manufactured to fit any thickness of drywall ⅜″, ½″ or ⅝″ etc.

For clear understand I will describe box clips designed for ⅝s inch drywall, these measurements will be able to be transferred to work with any size drywall.

FIG. 1 measurement for #100 are from tip to first 90 degree turn ¾s of an inch. FIG. 1 measurement for #102 are from first 90 degree turn to second 90 degree turn are 9/16 of an inch, for snug fit that holds in drywall. FIG. 1 measurement for #104 are from second 90 degree turn to third 90 90 degree turn are 13/4 inch from outside to outside. FIG. 1 measurements for #106 are a saddle bend (or a flattened hammered area about a ¼ inch) to be used to lock the box clip into place for added tight fit and starts about a ¼ inch up from the second 90 degree turn to mirrored on the opposite hook. FIG. 1 measurements for #108 are the thickness of the malleable round wire type metal at 3/32s of an inch.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the box clips with the same exact measurements of FIG. 1 .

FIG. 3 is a simple illustration of an electrical nail on box (no drywall installed) to be modified into an Old work electrical cut in box (drywall installed).

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a New work box with the nail holder and nails removed to be used as an Old work cut in electrical box.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the drill template on the modified New work electrical box. FIG. 5 measurements of drill bit #500 are 7/64 of an inch. FIG. 5 measurements for #502 are 7/64 of an inch hole drilled in the template measured from front edge back to hole at ¾ of an inch to center, the 7/64 inch hole to the next 7/64 inch hole are measured 13/4 inch apart. FIG. 5 measurements for #504 are ¾ of an inch height by 2⅛ in wide. FIG. 5 measurements for #504 on the inside edge is ⅜ of an inch high to create the 90 degree edge. FIG. 5 #400 is described as a nail on box with nails and nail holders removed for a smooth surface. FIG. 6 is an illustration of the template to drill the 7/64s inch holes quickly and efficiently in the modified New work box to make it into an Old work box.

FIG. 7 shows the clips installed into FIG. 4 s number #400, ready to be inserted into the cut out in drywall for electrical use. Number #108 is the electrical box clip, #106 is the saddle (or flattened ¼ inch) to lock clip securely in place, #100 will keep the box securely fastened on the front of the box.

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the New work to Old work electrical box installed in drywall. FIG. 8 number #800 is ⅝ inch drywall. FIG. 8 number #106 is the part of the clip that holds the box to the inside part of the drywall. FIG. 8 number #108 is the part of the clip that holds the box to the outside part of the drywall. FIG. 8 number #802 is the hole cut in the drywall for the electrical box. FIG. 8 number #400 is the electrical box being held in the drywall by the Old work electrical box clips.

Use: To use the Old work electrical box clips, the box is held in the opening and the Box Clips are pushed up and the second one is pushed down past the saddle locks (or flattened ¼ inch lock) to securely hold the cut in electrical box in place.

Electrical box, new work type converted to old work type for installation of electrical wire to install switches and receptacles in commercial and residential buildings.

FIG. 1 Drawings 100 ¾ of an inch front hook 102 9/16 of an inch for ⅝ drywall clip 104 1 ¾ of a inch for hole spacing 106 Saddle lock or Flattened type grip lock 108 3/32 round Old work box Clip FIG. 2 Side View of FIG. 1 FIG. 3 Drawings 300 Nail on box FIG. 4 Drawings 400 Nail on box with nails removed FIG. 5 Drawings 500 7/64 inch drill bit 502 7/64 inch hole 504 3/4 inch height, 2 ⅛ inch wide with ⅜ inch lip 400 Nail on box with nails removed FIG. 8 Drawings 502 7/64 inch hole 504 ¾ inch height, 2 ⅛ inch wide with ⅜ inch lip FIG. 7 Drawings 108 3/32 round Old work box clip 106 Saddle lock or flattened type grip lock 400 Nail on box with nails removed 100 ¾ of and inch front hook FIG. 8 Drawings 800 ⅝ inch Drywall 106 Saddle lock or flattened type grip lock 108 3/32 round Old work box clip 802 hole cut in drywall for electrical box 400 Nail on box with nails removed 108 3/32 round Old work box clip 

1. A machine, comprising: a. a piece of rigid or malleable material. b. Said piece of rigid or malleable material is bent to form a clip to hold an electrical box into a cut-in hole into drywall. c. Said clip is one continuous piece of rigid or malleable material resembling two small letter U s at a 90 degree angle attached to one large letter U upside-down with the half circles part of said U flat and square. d. Said piece of ridge or malleable material can be of multicolor or multi shaped cross sections. e. Said clip of continuous material of rigid or malleable material cross section is large enough to support said electrical box and small enough to allow the installation of electrical receptacles or switches and cover. f. Said electrical boxes can be round, rectangular and square types of boxes.
 2. The machine of claim 1 wherein said old work electrical box clips are installed using a drill template and drill bit for quick easy installation.
 3. A clip designed to hold an electrical box in drywall: a. a piece of rigid or malleable material, bent to function as said clip b. said rigid or malleable material can be multicolor or multi shaped cross section example, metal, plastic, but other materials are also suitable.
 4. A box clip to hold an electrical box in drywall, a. said box clip is a piece of rigid or malleable material bent in a manner to fasten a nail on plastic box in drywall, after said nail on box nail and nail clips are removed, b. said rigid or malleable material can be multicolor or multi shaped cross section measuring at a diameter sufficient enough to hold said plastic box in drywall and not to large as to crowd said plastic boxes function to install a switch, receptacle and plate cover. 